late 14c., "to make a judicial decision," from Old French ajugier "to judge, pass judgment on," from Latin adiudicare "grant or award as a judge," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + iudicare "to judge," which is related to iudicem (see judge (v.)). Sense of "to have an opinion" is from c.1400. Related: Adjudged; adjudging.